The hunger line exceeded 13 thousand TL and the poverty line exceeded 43 thousand TL

The Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ) announced data on hunger and poverty lines for September 2023.

Consequently, the monthly food expenditure (hunger limit) that a family of four living in Ankara must make to have a healthy, balanced and adequate diet has increased to 13,334.13 TL.

Thus, the hunger limit increased by 1136 TL in one month.

The total amount of spending on food and other mandatory monthly expenses for clothing, housing (rent, electricity, water, fuel), transportation, education, health and similar needs reached 43,433.65 TL (poverty line).

It should be noted that the poverty line increased by 3,700 TL in one month.

The ‘cost of living’ for a single employee increased to 17,336.25 TL per month. This cost was 15 thousand 813 TL in August.

3.8 TIMES THE MINIMUM WAGE

The huge increases in the hunger and poverty line due to the rising cost of living have already eliminated the increase in the minimum wage.

In September 2023, the minimum wage of 11,402 TL is still approximately 2,000 TL below the hunger threshold; The poverty line was 3.8 times the minimum wage.

GIANT INCREASE IN INFLATION IN THE KITCHEN

According to Türk-İş data, the change in “kitchen inflation” was as follows in September 2023:

* The increase in the minimum expenditure on “food” for a family of four living in Ankara was 9.31 percent compared to the previous month.

*The eight-month rate of change was determined to be 64 percent.

* In the last twelve months, the variation rate was 84.04 percent.

* The variation rate according to twelve-month averages was calculated at 106.21 percent.

MILK PRICES TRIPLED, OLIVE OIL PRICES QUINTIFYED

According to the research, in the milk, yogurt and cheese group; It was stated that while the price of milk increased by an average of 8 percent in a month, cheese prices decreased slightly and the price of yogurt increased slightly.

It was highlighted that the products of this group have increased in price more than 3 times since January 2022.

In one month, the price of semolina increased by 13 percent, rice by 10 percent, bulgur by 9 percent, bread by 8 percent and pasta by 5 percent.

In one month, margarine increased by 17 percent, olive oil by 8 percent and sunflower oil by 4 percent. The price of butter remained stable.

Since January 2022, sunflower oil has increased by 1 layer; butter and margarine in 3 layers; The price of olive oil increased more than five times.

TÜRK-İŞ: THE COST OF LIVING IS UNBEARABLE

Türk-İş’s statement said: “Inflation, which affects all segments of society, especially those with low and fixed incomes, and can be described as the most fundamental problem of the people, continues to have an impact on daily life with a reality that goes beyond official data.”

The statement continued, stating that the high inflation experienced in Turkey is expected to be effective in the coming short-term period as well:

“As a result of the gradual decline in labor’s share of national income, the poor have become poorer.

In this process, high price increases that continued despite rising wage incomes drove the cost of living to unbearable levels.

Especially the increase in indirect taxes and the increasing increase in income tax rates in these months have further eroded the income of wage earners. “What should be essential in the income policy that should be implemented is that incomes rise more than the level of real inflation and that welfare should be shared equitably at a level that covers expenses that ensure decent living conditions.”